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NBD - Wait…a Les Paul BASS??!
- Thread starter Davebass77
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Never owned a Gibson bass. That said I tried a second hand gold top Les Paul bass built like a reenforced 335 when I was looking for a bass to jump back in on after being away for 15 years. I tried six basses that day and took home a low mileage T40. The Gibson was nice, but like an Epiphone hollow body bass I also tried that day, any volume and it (and the Gibson) began to howl.
GET THE *#$% OUTTA HERE! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? OMG!! whatta way to get an ax!!
it's a beauty, dave --- congratulations on your new instrument!
I may have missed it, but I didn't see this posted. Harry Chapin with Big John Wallace on Gibson Les Paul Recording bass.
John Wallace was the first bassist I saw play an Alembic in concert with LEDs in the neck. If you're not familiar with Harry Chapin or John Wallace, the album Greatest Stories Live is a compendium of exceptionally tasteful bass work behind some very good songwriting.
John
John Wallace was the first bassist I saw play an Alembic in concert with LEDs in the neck. If you're not familiar with Harry Chapin or John Wallace, the album Greatest Stories Live is a compendium of exceptionally tasteful bass work behind some very good songwriting.
John
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- Mar 13, 2008
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Congratulations on your new Gibson bass!
While I have owned a couple FSO's I never really got on with them and even in my early years always liked the sound, look and feel of Gibson basses. My Les Paul is a Gold Top Oversize, great, very playable neck, perfect balance and it doesn't sound anything like an FSO - All good points.
'60s Thunderbirds aren't cheap or easy to find but well worth it, the neck is slimmer than a Jazz and that single pickup is to die for, it's that good. It's not really recognized as such, but the Thunderbird was a ground breaking bass in terms of design, no other maker had produced a multi laminated neck thru design in 1963, yet that went on to be copied by many other manufacturers including Alembic.
My '64.
While I have owned a couple FSO's I never really got on with them and even in my early years always liked the sound, look and feel of Gibson basses. My Les Paul is a Gold Top Oversize, great, very playable neck, perfect balance and it doesn't sound anything like an FSO - All good points.
'60s Thunderbirds aren't cheap or easy to find but well worth it, the neck is slimmer than a Jazz and that single pickup is to die for, it's that good. It's not really recognized as such, but the Thunderbird was a ground breaking bass in terms of design, no other maker had produced a multi laminated neck thru design in 1963, yet that went on to be copied by many other manufacturers including Alembic.
My '64.
Here's my LPB-2, it wasn't in the best shape when I got it. I had to solder in a new balance pot, the brass truss nut was stripped so I ordered a new one (on that point thank god gibson used softer metal for the nut. Rather strip a replaceable nut than a rod). As for the speed knobs, one had white numbers (probably a replacement), while the others were a yellowed white (I'm guessing the originals) , so I replaced all of them with the EMG style knobs, and threw the old knobs in a baggie and in the case.
I suspect at one point someone refinished the back of the neck, and I didn't really like it. I always wanted a bass with a sanded neck so I did it to this one. The mahogany feels very different to play raw, I'm guessing it is very porous, unlike a raw maple neck. It's not unpleasant, just feels a little different. I apply the Howard Feed N Wax that I use on my Warwick to keep it sealed, it is working great. I used a razor blade to score the edges of where the finish needs to be removed, and sanded the rest. It may not be for everyone, but it's definitely a fun great sounding bass. Yours looks fantastic and I agree there needs to be more people like Dave.
I suspect at one point someone refinished the back of the neck, and I didn't really like it. I always wanted a bass with a sanded neck so I did it to this one. The mahogany feels very different to play raw, I'm guessing it is very porous, unlike a raw maple neck. It's not unpleasant, just feels a little different. I apply the Howard Feed N Wax that I use on my Warwick to keep it sealed, it is working great. I used a razor blade to score the edges of where the finish needs to be removed, and sanded the rest. It may not be for everyone, but it's definitely a fun great sounding bass. Yours looks fantastic and I agree there needs to be more people like Dave.
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My girlfriend (at the time) and I met Harry Chapin in 1972 or '73 at a mall in Harrisburg, PA. He was kind and funny. And I also love his Greatest Stories Live album. "A Better Place To Be" is such an amazingly moving song.
No mention of this?
Totally forgotten since today's Epiphone version is named after Jack Casady, not Lester Polfus. A total market failure at the time (early 70s) . There was a matching guitar.
Totally forgotten since today's Epiphone version is named after Jack Casady, not Lester Polfus. A total market failure at the time (early 70s) . There was a matching guitar.
Congrats! What a great friend. I played the standard version of yours once used at a GC and I couldn't put it down. Always thought they were cool basses.
A Tale of Two Daves.
Daves aren't here, man.
I once saw a flame blue LP bass, and I will never forget it. Absolutely gorgeous.
So Anyway, congrats on the new bass.
I've owned two LP Triumphs over the years and recently acquired a Gibson SG bass.
They were all quality instruments.
Hats off to your Colorado friend. Find a way to pay it forward.
I've owned two LP Triumphs over the years and recently acquired a Gibson SG bass.
They were all quality instruments.
Hats off to your Colorado friend. Find a way to pay it forward.
I love my Casady and would LOVE to a) find one of these, and b) justify purchasing one! The JC does what I need it to do and I don't know if there's much to be gained with a Les Paul Signature bass, but they sure are cool! The late, great, Michael Rhodes used one of these quite a bit.
- Nov 27, 2003
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Yeah, the Epiphone Jack Casady must be Gibson's longest running Signature model bass.
Can somebody tell me how they compare?
As for the guitar version, that too was reissued by Epiphone but failed.
Cool bass.
It's the "thing" to trash talk Gibson. And then you find one you like.
It's the "thing" to trash talk Gibson. And then you find one you like.
Yes there is; the Gibson Les Paul Bass Owners Club. Send them a picture of your bass - and ask for a number (assuming they give numbers; some clubs - like Alembic - don't).
My only real complaint about Gibson basses is - don't hold your breath waiting for a left handed one to show up. AFAIK, Gibson didn't make "production" lefty basses until 2013. And, then they waited 5 years to make some more. So, there should be a handful of 2023 lefties, but... based on past experience? They like to keep them a secret... I do have one; a '13 Gibson Thunderbird. The electronics and build quality are... well, it gives my Alembic Epic a run for it's money. It's pickups are not muddy at all. And, yes; it is a little neck heavy - if you want to play it like your Jazz Bass, that is. Slung low, with the headstock pointing up - like most TB players do with theirs? Not neck heavy at all... I had an '18 T-Bird, too, but... it was surplus to my herd, and I really disliked it's Babicz bridge. So, I sold it to another lefty/fellow member of the Thunderbird Club here. He seems quite happy with it... Unfortunately for me, all the spots in my herd are now filled, so - no more Gibsons for me. Just as well, though; 23 basses are almost more than I can deal with, anyway...
That's the first I've ever heard of an Epi reissue of the LP Signature guitar, never mind seen one. They must have pulled those off the market awfully fast.
Back in 1982 I stopped in a music store in NYC that had NOS LP Sig guitars and basses selling for $400 each, that was like Ibanez prices. None of the low-impedance Les Paul models fared well. There was even a super rare flattop acoustic guitar.
Yes there is; the Gibson Les Paul Bass Owners Club. Send them a picture of your bass - and ask for a number (assuming they give numbers; some clubs - like Alembic - don't).
My only real complaint about Gibson basses is - don't hold your breath waiting for a left handed one to show up. AFAIK, Gibson didn't make "production" lefty basses until 2013. And, then they waited 5 years to make some more. So, there should be a handful of 2023 lefties, but... based on past experience? They like to keep them a secret... I do have one; a '13 Gibson Thunderbird. The electronics and build quality are... well, it gives my Alembic Epic a run for it's money. It's pickups are not muddy at all. And, yes; it is a little neck heavy - if you want to play it like your Jazz Bass, that is. Slung low, with the headstock pointing up - like most TB players do with theirs? Not neck heavy at all... I had an '18 T-Bird, too, but... it was surplus to my herd, and I really disliked it's Babicz bridge. So, I sold it to another lefty/fellow member of the Thunderbird Club here. He seems quite happy with it... Unfortunately for me, all the spots in my herd are now filled, so - no more Gibsons for me. Just as well, though; 23 basses are almost more than I can deal with, anyway...
They did exist at one time. I got mine for around $800 new when Gibson was liquidating their lefties. 10+ lbs but perfectly balanced like no other bass I have owned.
